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New Study On Post-Concussion Syndrome Concludes That Not Everyone Recovers

A new Study in the Journal of Neurotrauma 34:1411-1523 (April 15, 2017), concludes that many people who suffer from postconcussion syndrome do not recover.

The study focused on 285 patients diagnosed with concussion based symptoms. Of these, 141 responded and these were boiled down to 110 after taking out anyone who failed certain credibility tests or was involved in litigation. Of these patients, only 27% eventually recovered. 67% of those who made a full recovery did so within one year. Not a single eligible patient who was reporting symptoms after three years from the date of their injury ever made a complete recovery.

The study also reinforced earlier findings that postconcussive symptoms appear in a predictable order and that each additional symptom reduces the full recovery rate by 20%.

It is already well known that a loss of consciousness is not required to have a concussion. Anyone who has suffered a concussion, whether actually diagnosed or not, can then have post-concussion syndrome. In this study, the most common symptoms reported were headaches, difficulty concentrating and fatigue. Other symptoms consistent with post-concussion syndrome include irritability, fogginess, sensitivity to noise and light, depression, lightheadedness, dizziness, balance problems, neck pain, nausea, vertigo, loss of appetite, slurred speech, and vomiting.

If you have suffered a potentially concussion causing event, whether through a direct blow to the head or a shaking or whipping of the head and/or neck, and you are noticing any combination of these symptoms, it is imperative that you obtain prompt medical attention.